Is voting for candidate just because of their gender or race equality?

Over a year ago

by Chad Matthes

Is voting for candidate just because of their gender or race, and not on their merits, a step towards equality? I started thinking about this question early on before the primaries. Is voting for someone only because they are black or a women more ignorant than not voting for them because of their gender or race? To me there is a large grey area. On the one hand fear and intolerance fuels the bigotry, while on the other indifference towards the issues trumps perceived progress. While the election of a women or African-American man would be a milestone, wouldn’t true equality be that the candidates are elected not by the color of their skin or gender but by their ideas and character? Let’s hear what you think.